At First Glance, Palin Is A Smart Choice

I can't say I'm all that surprised by John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) as his runningmate. At first glance - and this will be negated if bad scandals come out - the choice is a very smart one, so smart, in fact, that, as an Obama supporter, it scares me.

Here's four reasons why this is a pretty smart choice - and for progressives, I think its a good idea that we look at these factors as we head into the final stretch of the campaign:

1. Putting a woman on the ticket is McCain's best hope to peel off some disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters. I'm not saying it's going to work all that well, as I don't think most women simply vote for women, regardless of their positions on issues. But if McCain really does have a chance to win over Clinton supporters, picking Palin is as good a shot as any to try to do that.

2. Palin comes from an energy state, and specifically, an oil and gas state. With Democrats' pathetically (yet predictably) tepid behavior on the drilling issue, the GOP senses an opportunity to exploit it, and you can bet Palin will be making the drilling case, with first-person narratives and anecdotes.

3. It will be difficult - though not impossible - for the Obama campaign to make an experience argument against Palin. Even though Palin is probably the most inexperienced candidate for vice president in contemporary American history, the Republicans have spent months attacking Obama's supposed lack of experience. So when gnats like Rahm Emanuel issue silly, over-the-top press releases about Palin's career, they re-open an experience debate that John McCain probably wants to have with Obama.

4. As the Nation's Chris Hayes reports, Palin is a die-hard right-winger who could help McCain solidify the Republican base.

Again, all of these assets could be negated by things that come out about Palin's career and/or gaffes she makes on the campaign trail. I'm sure hoping that's what happens, and we'll need to really help examine and publicize the most odious parts of her record, as well as make the case that the experience of a 72-year-old candidate's VP choice is especially important. But we underestimate her - and the McCain operation - at our peril.

Finally, let's step back a moment, take off the partisan blinders, and celebrate. Palin's nomination all but guarantees that the United States will either have its first African American president or its first female vice-president. I desperately hope its the former, and not the latter - but the historic nature of either is something to be pretty happy about.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

Comments

[blueflush]

i think it is very important that the democrats dont get ahead of themselves and stay on message. mccain knows that attack on his female vice president would be blunted because she is a mother and a female. somehow i think there is a deep underlying method to his madness. obama must be careful not to fall into the republicans trap. as i watch the republicans talking head on television i could clearly see they are struggling to make a point for this pick. they avoid the questions and get very offensive. during an interview on cnn newsroom with one of mccains supporters. the reporter asked her if she feels mrs. palin would be qualified to be commander and chikef she got very defensive and retorted to the female reporter, 'as a female i am surprise you ask me that question" this was done in an attempt to avoid the question.

[Bluedanube]

John, if it is the latter you are going to see the beginnings of a massive brain drain from a nation that is obviously brain dead. They say that people rarely ,if ever, make their decisions for a particular presidential candidate based on the VP. In this case, however, given an aged candidate with real health issues, the thought of a fundamentalist right wing creationist a heartbeat away from the presidency should give real pause to any voter. McCain's choice clearly demonstrates that Republicans could give a rat's patootie about the United States. Their only true concern is winning elections and then dividing up the spoils amongst themselves like any good barbarian.

[Elrancho]

You must remember this isn't about her being a good VP. He didn't choose her because he thought she'd make a good VP. The only reason he chose her is because he thinks it will help him win. Unfortunately, half of the country's population is dumb enough to see a reasonably pretty (white) face and vote on the strength of it.

[provgrays]

Right winger, energy state and peeling off Hillary voters?

You make an extraordinarily weak argument here. Palin is from an energy state but from one with among the fewest electoral votes in the country. The energy companies have everything all their own way right now, so is Palin's selection going to mean that the long oppressed energy corporations will finally have their day?

A few absolute Hillary diehards will pull the lever for Girl Power, party be damned, but those few deadenders will not swing the election because Palin is anathema to every progressive feminist in the country. You said nothing about Palin's ability to step in and be President if it came to that. You ignored that because she clearly cannot.

Right winger? They're falling out of the trees. Anyone else McSame may have picked would have been a right winger. That is not a rare quality in today's GOP.

Sorry. I'm not buying it.

[deb123]

McCain's VP pick only highlights his comparison to GWB. What happened to McCain's "country first" mantra? To choose such a neophyte at a time when complex global issues are so intertwined with our domestic problems, can only point out McCain's stubbornness, short-sightedness and inability to connect with reality. To have this person a heartbeat away from the presidency is frightening -- and comparing her inexperience to Obama's is ludicrous. She may be a fine governor and her appeal is compelling, but with our country at a crossroads of moving into the future or falling further behind in a highly competitive market place, the selection is puzzling at best. Let's hope when the novelty of the pick wears off, voters will see it for what it is -- selfishly political. As a woman, I find it utterly demeaning.

[concernedms]

With an election this crucial on so many issues and with three Supreme Court Justices slots that might be filled by the next President's nominees, we cannot afford time to celebrate just the race or gender of any candidate because the election is just over two months away..

I have long disagreed with McCain, but Palin's views on education, Big Oil, the environment and the ethics investigation still active on her scare me. McCain just turned 72. He's had severe medical issues in the past. If he should die while in office, that means Palin would be President. With just over 22 months experience as Governor and a popularity rating that plummeted from 90 percent to the low 60's quickly, it's not unreasonable to be worried.

I will not cheer for anyone simply because he or she shares my gender, race or creed. I prefer to research and reflect on a person's character, accomplishments and philosophies before I start cheering them on.

Please don't jump any kind of rah-rah bandwagon about McCain's choice until you look beyond the obvious and understand that she is not a "What you see is what you get" kind of VP. You really have to take the time to research, but if you do, particularly if you are interested in women's rights, you will see that she is a step back, not a step forward for women in this country.

[jlover]

the obama camp should not even talk about palin inexperien­ce....that is what rove wants.....­.( dumbing down the voters) talking about akers,britney,and paris,flag pins,etc. rove wants to take away the main issues in this election..­...(we were being treted like adults for the first time in years,having adult conversations about politics..­.rove sensed that and did not like what he saw...all obamabiden have to is...TALK ABOUT HE ISSUES....­.STICK WITH THE ISSUES...T­IE PALIN TO BUSHMCCAIN­ROVE....AN­D CONGRADULATE HER AT THE SAME TIME......­..THE ROVE PLAYBOOK IS EASY TO READ

[NeoLiberal]

I agree.

The inexperience issue will automatically come out, when issues are discussed.

We'll learn what her positions are and what her strategies would be.

Let her open her mouth and we can all but await the inevitable insertion of the foot.

[certainot]

problem is, talk radio in large part decides what is emphsized and what is dropped by the media. mccain has made major foot in mouth gaffes that should get replay but don't get anywhere near the replay that an obama related gaffe does. michelle's 'proud problem' went all the way to the convention with her and while she may have reassured the 20MIL who saw it, limbaugh has that size of an audience every week, three time that with the rest of the blabbermouths.

[foxygirl]

The best written post on Huffington about this subject.

[jahzilla]

Busheep much?

[ToddInGA]

I'm becoming more and more convinced that #3 is going to form the basis for the right's mantra. all the CNN shows tonight with right-wing guests kept parroting the same exact talking points, in response to every question: she's got more experience than Obama and she's not running for president. the extent of her experience is clearly suspect, but i'm guessing the right doesn't care if they take hits on her experience, as long as they get to keep repeating that O. is not experienced over and over.

[magawiscas]

Why on earth would I celebrate the elevation of a woman of a woman who believes that the state should control my body, that the state should decide whether I am FORCED to have a baby?

Are you kidding?

[perk]

Wow, "forced to have a baby" ? Really? I will have to do some more research to find that quote. That will be a good one.

[DrScientist]

haha are you serious?!

Are they going to build an off-ramp exit to your pudenda? For serious! hahaha

[hrayovac]

I, like all Democrats, have ample paranoia as well after taking a beating these last two majors..Ho­wever, I think we have to recognize that this one is a real stinker..e­nough so that we need now to ricicule Palin and ridicule hard before any sense of gravitas attends her by a wanton and perverse media. I heartily disagree that it's such a great thing to have broken the barrior with just any woman as president. This could set women back rather than forward if God forbid McCain wins with her stumbling around Washington. If we want to be inclusive just for its own sake why not celebrate the first mentally handicapped person who "makes good" and becomes treasury secretary? (I'm not suggesting a comparison to women, but get the point?) This is about true leaders and fake leaders.

[mijumom]

I am one woman who is not remotely excited about the prospect of this woman being the first female VP. The fact that Obama has dark skin is icing to me (I'm white but I think it is an important milestone), however, I would be voting for Obama if he was any color and I mean that wholeheartedly.

Palin is a pawn. No offense to her but she represents so much that I despise. Even as a mother, I have zero tolerance for her accepting such a position while she has 5 children (one of which is only 4 months old). WTF??? McC could drop dead at any moment and she's going to be there to lead?? Unfrickinb­elievable.

[Balloonman]

Imagine SARAH PALIN succeeding President John McCain? Ladies and gentlemen. Our Commander-in-Chief, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SARAH PALIN! Whoa! Practicing her politic. Senator TED STEVENS! Love the bridge idea (to nowhere) if only you weren't corrupt! Giving people less entitled than business subsidy right wingerism short shrift like the rest of her compatriots. But still, surely she would not be likely to bomb, bomb, boming IRAN would she? Like McCain alien WADE VS ROE, but a woman who announces pre-birth the right to be born and live regardless, she would surely . . . but this is silly. This speculation about such an unlikely calamity.

[Whinger]

It would be smart if womankind were stupid!

The choice exposes John McCain cynical side, attempting to exploit women including the veep!
This is GOP saying women are so dumb and emotional they'll flock to us!

They'll learn to respect womankind before this is over!

[UNCLEJOE]

Obama knew he needed the Hillary supporters to clinch the Election, and So did Rove, so Palin is a good choice for the Republicans and the polls will show the shift favoring McCain in the November Election.

It is now Obama's BIG problem of diminishng Palin's credibility without appeariing to deminishing all womanhood. McCain is no longer the issue; it's the feminist's illusion of having a woman as President that can win for the Republicans; all the crucial issues of war, economics, health care, education, taxes, global warming, renewable energy, cleaning Congress of Lobby influence are cleverly pushed on the back burner while the Democrats waste their time and TV money fighting a non-issue, Gov. Palin while McCain calls Obama a Muslin through surrogates and repeating, "Obama is inexperienced" or "Can we Trust Obama?" And using racial innuendos in his adds. Gov. Palin is a decoy and a distraction from the real issues facing the survival of our free Democracy that can win for the Republicans if Obama takes the Palin Bait.

My suggestion,"Negate Palin's credentials without insulting the woman and Move onto the real issues, 'The falsely contrived Bush/McCain Wars and the failed Republican ecmomy'.